BACKGROUND
Myocardial interstitial fibrosis is a characteristic of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). This study evaluates the collagen turnover in HCM and its impact on left ventricular (LV) diastolic function.
METHODS AND RESULTS
Thirty-six HCM patients and 14 sex- and age-matched controls were studied. Collagen turnover was assessed as follows. By radioimmunoassay, a byproduct of collagen III synthesis (PIIINP) and 3 peptides resulting from collagen I synthesis (PICP and PINP) and… CONTINUE READING